Safety mechanism for firearms



H. J. KNEUBUEHL SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS April 30, 1940.

Filed July 15, 1938 Patented Apr. 30, 1940 warren stares PATENT OFFlCE 1 of one-half to Otto Ohio Stockli, Sugarcreek,

Application July 15, 1938, Serial No. 219,375

10 Claims.

The invention relates to safety mechanism for preventing accidental discharge of firearms, and more particularly to safety mechanism for firearms with stocks, such as rifles, shot guns, and

5 the like.

The safety device as provided on most modern firearms includes a finger member located at a convenient place on the exterior of the stock, usually on the grip portion thereof, which requires actuation by the user to lock or release the trigger or hammer of the gun. With this type of safety device the user often forgets to actuate the same, or it is apt to be moved accidentally by contact with the shoulder or some object, asv

[6" when the gun is dragged through a fence or through underbrush, under which conditions the trigger may he accidentally pulled causing serious or fatal injury to the person carrying the gun or to others accompanying him.

30 Other prior safety devices have required pressure on the butt of the gun stock to release the trigger for firing, such pressure being normally applied when the stock is brought to a persons shoulder in firing position. However, pressure on the butt is applied when the gun stock is rested on the ground or may be applied by pressing against a tree or post and the like, so that the gun can be accidentally discharged in that position.

go' Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a safety mechanism for firearms which not only requires pressure on the butt end of the stock, but also requires that the gun be simultaneously in a normal shooting position before it can be discharged by pulling the trigger.

Another object is to provide means at the butt end of the gun adapted to actuate a safety latch releasing the trigger even though uneven pres-- 'sure is applied to said butt end.

Another object is to provide a safety mechanism which automatically releases the trigger for firing when the gun is placed against the shoulder in a normal firing position, and which automatically locks the trigger against firing in other positions.

A further object is to provide a safety mechanism which automatically prevents discharge of the gun in any position unless pressure is applied to the butt end of the gun stock.

A still further object is to provide a safetymechanism which is simple and inexpensive to construct, and extremely e'fiicient in operation,

and which can be easily applied to standard makes of firearms having stocks.

These and other objects are attained by the improvements comprising the present invention, which may be stated in general terms as including means, preferably a safety latch for looking the trigger against firing movement, an operating rod extending through the stock and connected to said safety latch for releasing the same, a movable butt member for engaging the operating rod when pressure is applied thereto, and a pendulum member associated with said 10 butt member and movable by gravity for making connection between the operating rod and the butt member when the gun is in a normal shooting position and for preventing connection between the same when the gun is tilted in other positions- The invention is particularized in the accompanying specification and defined in the appended claims, and is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stock of a shot gun embodying the present safety mechanism, with part of the gun barrel shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached front'end view of the butt end of the safety mechanism turned or tilted about a longitudinal axis of the gun, parts being broken away to show the pendulum construction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the butt end of the stock, showing the parts of the safety mechanism in the positions occupied when pressure is applied to the butt with the gun in a substantially horizontal shooting position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached sectional view of the pendulum member;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view through the butt end of the stock as tilted when the gun barrel is inclined upwardly, showing the safety mechanism in elevation and part of the shoulder plate in section; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the stock when tilted as when the gun barrel is inclined downwardly.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

I have shown the improved safety mechanism as applied to a single barrel shot gun by way of example, but it may be applied to a double barrel shot gun or to a rifle, or to substantially all firearms having stocks, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shot gun includes a stock 5, having a grip portion 1 and a barrel 8 mounted thereon. The trigger 9 is mounted at the underside of said grip portion in usual fashion, and is pivoted at it on the guard plate II. The trigger is provided with a pin 12 which trips the latch is, releasing the hammer lever 14 for striking the firing pin (not shown) and discharging the gun.

A safety latch bar l5 may be provided having a pin 36 which normally holds the trigger 5 against movement, and forward movement of the latch bar l5 brings the pin l6 over the trigger notch ll so that the trigger canbe pulled to fire the gun.

The mechanism for automatically operating the latch bar [5 when the gun is in a firing position forms the subject matter of the present invention.

In accordance with the present improvements, a rod I8 is connected at its front end to latch bar 55 for operating the same, and extends rearwardly through a passage 59 provided longitudinally of the stock. The rear end portion of rod l3 preferably extends slidably through a bushing Ell secured in said passage, and projects into an enlarged recess 2! provided in the butt end of the stock. A collar 22 is secured on the rod l8 rearwardly of said bushing 20, and a compression spring 23 is interposed between said bushing 2t and collar 22 for yieldingly urging the rod l8 rearwardly to normally hold the latch bar 15 in its trigger locking position shown in Figure l. Preferably the extreme rearward end 24 of the rod it is squared beyond the collar 22.

The improved safety mechanism for actuating rod l3 when the gun is in normal shooting position preferably includes a butt member 25 having a rear flange 25 engaging the butt end of the stock and secured thereto by screws 27. A projecting portion 28 extends forwardly from flange 25 into recess 2! and is provided with a transverse opening 29. The front wall 35 of the opening is provided With a preferably square opening through which the squared end 24 of rod 53 projects.

A pendulum or gravity member 3! is pivotally mounted in the transverse opening 29 for relative swinging about a transverse axis. Ears preferably depend from the upper wall of opening 29 and the pendulum is pivoted thereon at 33. Preferably the pendulum 3B is mounted and constructed so that its lower end is relatively heavy and clears the lower wall of the opening in all tilted positions, but the upper forward end 34 of the pendulum engages the upper wall of "said opening 29 when the gun barrel is inclined downwardly, as'illustrated in Fig. 5, for a purpose to be described.

A shoulder plate 35 is mounted at the rear side of flange 25 of butt member 25, and is provided with a socket 55 adapted for telescoping over the flange 25, as shown. Preferably the plate 35 is secured to a plunger 3'8 slidably mounted in a vertically extending slot 38 in flange 25, by means of a screw 39 seated in the rear face of the shoulder plate, said plunger preferably having a collar 4-5 seated in a socket in the front side of said plate. A coil spring M is seated in an annular groove 52 in the front side of the plate 35 for normally urging the plate and plunger 3 rearwardly in the position of Figs. 1, 5 and 6, Accordingly, a pressure on the shoulder plate 35, as by pressing it against the shoulder will move the plunger 3'! forwardly in the position. of Fig. 3.

aneasaec Means for maintaining the plate 35 in axial alignment with flange 25 when uneven pressure is applied thereto preferably includes a pair of links 53 pivotally connected at their inner ends and said pivotal connection being slidable in a slot M provided in the plunger 37. The links 33 are pivoted intermediate their ends to the projection 28 by pins 45 for oscillating movement in the slot 38, and are pivoted at their outer ends to studs 45 secured to plate 35 by screws 35 and slidable in the ends of slot 38.

Thus if pressure is applied to one end of plate, 38, the links 43 distribute the pressure between both ends, so that the plate 35 moves relative to and in axial alignment with flange 25.

The pendulum 3| is adapted for making connection between the plunger 3"! and the end 24 of operating rod l8 when the gun is in substantially horizontal or normal shooting position and pressure is applied to the shoulder plate 35. Preferably, a plunger rod 41 is slidably mounted in the pendulum 3|, and has a front end 48 projecting therefrom for engaging the end 24 of the operating rod l8 and a rear end 49 projecting therefrom for being engaged by plunger 31.

The portion of the plunger rod 41 intermediate its ends is enlarged to form a front shoulder 55 thereon, and an annular flange 5! is provided on the plunger rod between its enlarged portion and its rear end 4d, the flange 5! fitting slidably in a recess 52 in the pendulum. A spring 53 is interposed between flange 5! and the bottom of the recess 52 for urging the plunger rod rearwardly to the position of Fig. 4, and a stop washer 5Q is fitted tightly in the rear end of recess 52 for abutting flange 5| to limit rearward movement of the plunger rod.

Thus when the gun is held in a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, the pendulum 3! hangs by gravity in a vertical position so that the plunger rod 41 is in substantial alignment with plunger 31 and the squared end 24 of the operating rod l8. When pressure is applied to the shoulder plate 35. with the gun in this position, the rear end 49 of the plunger rod is engaged 'by the curved end flange 55 on plunger 37 and the front end 48 of the plunger rod engages the squared end 24, as shown in Fig. 3, to move operating rod 18 and latch bar 85 forwardly, releasing the trigger 9 for being pulled to fire the gun.

Means is provided for limiting the forward movement of the pendulum plunger rod 41 when the gun is turned or rotated about a longitudinal axis in substantially horizontal position, so that the operating rod 18 is not moved sufficiently to release the trigger. As shown in Fig. 2, a transversely swinging pendulum member 55 is pivoted on a pin 5'5 for swinging in a transverse slot 58 in the pendulum 31. The pendulum member 56 is provided with a transversely elongated hole 59 through which end portion !;8 of the plunger rod projects as shown in Fig. 4.

The hole 59 is made large enough so that in the position of Figs. 1- and 3 the shoulder 50 of the plunger rod will pass therethrough, thus permitting sufficient movement of the. plunger rod to cause operating rod l8 to release the latch bar 55 when pressure is applied to the shoulder plate. When the gun is turned or rotated about a longitudinal axis, as indicated; in Fig. 2, the reduced end 48 of the connector rod engages one end of hole 59 due to swinging of the pendulum 56, but the shoulder 50 abuts the pendulum member 56 and prevents suiiicient forward movement of the plunger rod 41 to actuate operating rod 18 for releasing the latch bar l5, even though the plunger rod engages the end 24 of the operating rod.

If the gun barrel 8 is inclined upwardly, the parts of the safety mechanism assume a position such as shown in Fig. 5, the pendulum 3| being maintained in a vertical position by gravity so that even though pressure is applied to shoulder plate 35 the front end 48 of the plunger rod will not engage the end 24 of the operating rod to' release the trigger 9, so that the gun cannot be fired. The pendulum maintains this inoperative position in every similar tilted or inclined position ranging from horizontal to and including a straight upward position of the gun barrel, because in the straight upward position the excess weight of the lower portion of the pendulum 3| will cause it to swing out of alignment with the plunger 31 and the rod l8.

The natural movements in bringing the gun to the shoulder in shooting position include grasping the barrel in one hand and the stock grip portion in the other hand, and then quickly moving the butt to and pressing it against the shoulder with the gun barrel in substantially horizontal or slightly downwardly or upwardly inclined position, and with one finger in position to pull the trigger. In such position of the gun, the plunger 3'! and pendulum plunger rod 41 actuate the operating rod It, as shown in Fig. 3, for releasing the trigger. If it is desired to aim the gun upwardly, this is normally done after the gun is brought to the shoulder and while it is held there, so that regardless of how the gun is then tilted the trigger latch bar will be maintained in released position and the gun can be fired.

The upper forward end 34 of the pendulum 3! is arranged to engage the upper wall of the opening 29, as shown in Fig. 6, because when the gun is brought quickly to the shoulder inertia will cause the pendulum to swing counter-clockwise, and immediate pressure on the shoulder plate might move plunger rod 47 forwardly above the end 24 of operating rod l8 before the pendulum could swing back in alignment with rod I8 to actuate the same.

Accordingly, the upper wall of opening 29 engages end 34 of pendulum 3! when it swings counter-clockwise to prevent it from moving out of alignment with the operating rod I8. This permits firing the gun with the barrel inclined or straight downwardly, provided pressure is applied to the shoulder plate, but this position is not dangerous even though the gun is accidentally discharged because the gun barrel is pointing downwardly toward the ground, thereby reducing likelihood of injury to a minimum.

The improved safety mechanism absolutely prevents firing the gun in any position without pressure being simultaneously applied to the shoulder plate to release the trigger latch bar. The pendulum acts to prevent movement of the latch bar even if pressure is applied to the shoulder plate, when the gun is laid on its side or upside down or stood with its barrel inclined or straight upwardly, so that the gun cannot be accidentally discharged in those positions.

Moreover, the danger of accidentally discharging the gun while pulling it through a fence or underbrush is substantially eliminated, because such accidental discharge requires three simultaneous operations; namely, the gun must be held in a normal shooting position while pressure is applied to the butt and while the trigger is pulled.

means for automatically releasing the trigger for firing when the gun is brought to the shoulder in a normal shooting position, and for automatically locking the trigger against firing in all other positions.

Obviously, the present safety mechanism is easily applied to standard or conventional firearms with stocks, by connecting the operating rod I8 to the trigger safety latch embodied in the gun as manufactured.

I claim:

1. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending through the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of said stock, and a pendulum associated with said shoulder plate for relative swinging by gravity and for transmitting movement of said shoulder plate to said latch operating rod.

2. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch op-.

erating rod extending through the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of said stock, and means for making connection between said shoulder plate and said operating rod when the firearm is in normal shooting position, said means being mounted for relative swinging by gravity out of alignment with said operating rod when the firearm is in other positions.

3. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending through the stock, a butt member secured in the butt end of said stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt member and having a plunger projecting thereinto, means yieldingly urging the shoulder plate rearwardly away from said butt member, and means for engaging said plunger and said operating rod for releasing the safety latch when the shoulder plate is moved with the firearm in normal shooting position, said means being movable by gravity out of alignment with said operating rod when the firearm is tilted upwardly.

4. In a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, safety mechanism for releasing said latch including a latch operating rod extending rearwardly through said stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of the stock, and a pendulum having a plunger rod adapted for engaging the shoulder plate and latch operating rod to release the trigger latch upon movement of said shoulder plate toward said stock, said pendulum being mounted in the stock for swinging by gravity out of alignment with said operating rod when the firearm is tilted upwardly.

5. In a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, safety mechanism for releasing said latch including a latch operating rod extending rearwardly through said stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of the stock, and a pendulum having a plunger rod adapted for engaging the shoulder plate and latch operating rod to release the trigger latch upon movement of said shoulder plate toward said stock, said pendulum being mounted in the stock for swinging by gravity out of alignment with said operating rod when the firearm is tilted upwardly, and a second pendulum mounted on said first pendulum for transverse swinging movement and arranged to engage said first pendulum plunger rod for restraining movement thereof when the firearm is rotated about a longitudinal axis.

6. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a The improved safety mechanism provide s stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending rearwardly through the stock, a buttmember secured in the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on said butt member, a gravity member pivoted on said butt member, a plunger longitudinally slidable in said gravity member for transmitting movement of said shoulder plate to said latch operating rod only when the firearm is in normal shooting position, and a pendulum member pivoted on said gravity member for transverse swinging movement and arranged to engage said gravity member plunger when the firearm is rotated about a longitudinal axis for restraining longitudinal sliding movement of said plunger.

'7. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending rearwardly through the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of said stock, a gravity member movably associated with said shoulder plate for transmitting movement of said shoulder plate to said latch operating rod and adapted for swinging out of alignment with said operating rod. when the firearm is tilted upwardly, and a pendulum mounted for swinging transversely on the gravity member for preventing transmission of operating movement to said latch operating rod when the firearm is rotated about a longitudinal axis.

8. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operat ing rod extending through the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of the stock, and pendulum means pivotally mounted in the stock providing a connection between the shoulder plate and the latch operating rod for transmitting movement of the shoulder plate to the latch operating rod to release the safety latch when the firearm is in normal shooting position, said pendulum means being movable by gravity out of movement transmitting position when the firearm is tilted upwardly.

9. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending through the stock, a shoulder plate movably mounted on the butt end of the stock, and pendulum means pivotally mounted in the stock providing a connection between the shoulder plate and the latch operating rod for transmitting movement of the shoulder plate to the latch operating rod to release the safety latch when the firearm is in normal shooting position, said pendulum means being movable by gravity into a position preventing the transmission of movement from the shoulder plate to the latch operating rod and when the firearm is rotated about a longitudinal axis.

10.. Safety mechanism for a firearm having a stock and a safety latch, including a latch operating rod extending through the stock, a butt mem ber secured in the butt end of said stock, a shoulder plate member movably mounted on the butt member, and pendulum means pivoted on one of said members for transmitting movement of said shoulder plate member to said latch operating rod when the firearm is in normal shooting position and for moving by gravity out of alignment with said operating rod when the firearm is in other positions,

HERMAN J. KNEUBUEHL. 

